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The Impact of the Disability Allowance on Financial Well-Being in the Maldives: Quasi-experimental Study

Author

Listed:
  • Lena Morgon Banks

    (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)

  • Shaffa Hameed

    (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)

  • Sofoora Kawsar Usman

    (Es-Key)

  • Calum Davey

    (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
    London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)

  • Hannah Kuper

    (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)

Abstract

There are few impact evaluations of social assistance programmes amongst people with disabilities, despite the increasing popularity of disability-targeted programmes. The Disability Allowance in the Maldives is a non-contributory, non-means-tested and unconditional cash transfer of MVR 2000 (US$130) per month. This study explores the impact of the Disability Allowance on financial well-being using a quasi-experimental study design with difference-in-difference analysis conducted between 2017 and 2019. Overall, this study found a modest impact of the Disability Allowance, mainly in food security. Receipt of the Disability Allowance was attributable to a decrease in the use of negative coping mechanisms in response to food insecurity and an increase in the food proportion of household consumption expenditures. There was a non-significant trend towards reduced poverty headcount and gap, and the likelihood of moderate/severe food insecurity. These findings carry implications for the design of social protection in the Maldives and globally, indicating possible improvements in programme design (e.g., increased amount) and for complementary interventions (e.g., improving access to disability-inclusive livelihood development programmes) to maximise impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Lena Morgon Banks & Shaffa Hameed & Sofoora Kawsar Usman & Calum Davey & Hannah Kuper, 2024. "The Impact of the Disability Allowance on Financial Well-Being in the Maldives: Quasi-experimental Study," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(2), pages 411-427, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:eurjdr:v:36:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1057_s41287-023-00607-8
    DOI: 10.1057/s41287-023-00607-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mitra, Sophie, 2010. "Disability Cash Transfers in the Context of Poverty and Unemployment: The Case of South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(12), pages 1692-1709, December.
    2. Hannah Kuper & Sarah Polack & Wanjiku Mathenge & Cristina Eusebio & Zakia Wadud & Mamunur Rashid & Allen Foster, 2010. "Does Cataract Surgery Alleviate Poverty? Evidence from a Multi-Centre Intervention Study Conducted in Kenya, the Philippines and Bangladesh," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(11), pages 1-10, November.
    3. Lena Morgon Banks & Shaffa Hameed & Sofoora Kawsar Usman & Hannah Kuper, 2020. "No One Left Behind? Comparing Poverty and Deprivation between People with and without Disabilities in the Maldives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Lena Morgon Banks & Hannah Kuper & Sarah Polack, 2017. "Poverty and disability in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Michael Palmer & Jenny Williams & Barbara McPake, 2019. "Standard of Living and Disability in Cambodia," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(11), pages 2382-2402, November.
    6. Daniel Mont & Cuong Nguyen, 2018. "Spatial Variation in the Poverty Gap Between People With and Without Disabilities: Evidence from Vietnam," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 137(2), pages 745-763, June.
    7. Derek Asuman & Charles Godfred Ackah & Frank Agyire-Tettey, 2021. "Disability and Household Welfare in Ghana: Costs and Correlates," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 633-649, December.
    8. Hannah Kuper & Sarah Polack & Cristina Eusebio & Wanjiku Mathenge & Zakia Wadud & Allen Foster, 2008. "A Case-Control Study to Assess the Relationship between Poverty and Visual Impairment from Cataract in Kenya, the Philippines, and Bangladesh," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(12), pages 1-13, December.
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